Alternative to fiddle yard

I have been experimenting with a type of drop in track system. My layout is too small to accommodate a fiddle yard and I was fed up off having to take units on and off the track so I devised this. Not exclusively my idea as I know there are similar things already out there.

I have built it from plywood and aluminium and it will be dropped in on a section of my layout that is out of view. It will be connected to the power supply by crocodile clips which are seen on the pictures. This is my prototype and if all goes well I will make several of these, one for each of my stock. I can now leave them on this unit, drop in and drive away as it were as opposed to constantly having to handle them off and on.

Interested to know if anyone has done something similar ? Excuse the dark pictures took them in the workshop at work.







 

Shaun

Very good Shaun.  The use of cassettes for storing locos and trains is quite common.  Cassettes tend to be more of a box to hold the stock securely as it's transported.
Here's a link:  http://mrlforum.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/3263-cassette-fiddle-yard-method/
John

Thanks John


 Interesting read….


Shaun

Hi Shaun,

Neat. Some means of making sure stock is fixed when lifting/moving/storing would probably be useful.

Nigel

In N gauge I use plastic trunking intended for concealing cables, 3' or 1M long holds a loco and 5 coaches. Peco track glued to the bottom of the trunking; electrical connection with phono plug and socket. Traverser plus cassettes - short cassetttes are not on the traverser, they  allow me to just lift loco and turn it then place at other end of a train (alternative would be a turntable and run round facility); the longer cassette is on the traverser, there will be up to 6 other normal tracks on the traverser.
A shelf above the traverser will hold additional cassettes. Typical use of a long cassette would be say for an inter-regional or other train that only runs once a day, e.g. Bournemouth Belle, Pines Express, Bournemouth> Birkenhead or Bournemouth>York>Newcastle

Heres my version, made from 6mm ply.